Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd Megazoom camera
Although the number of pixels still rises, it appears that, for a number of manufacturers, the real Megapixel race has ended. They seek to distinguish themselves through other affairs now. Instead of more pixels, digital cameras get new functionality to make photographing easier and also qualitatively better. The item of 2007 appears to be, among others, face detection. For that reason, it is not surprising that the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd Megazoom camera is equipped with that technique.

Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd - Face detection
Now there are different forms of face detection, it can be purely based on software or through the hardware. Fujifilm has chosen for the hardware and that is at this moment without a doubt the best choice. Now face detection is nothing new to Fujifilm. For years they have gained experience at the mini labs and from that knowledge the photographer now really benefits. Fujifilm's system works superb. Not only during photographing, face detection is handy, also when reviewing the images. You get familiar with it quickly and would not want to miss it.

Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd camera - Large zoom range
But face detection is not the only thing that makes the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd so unique. Also the exceptional zoom range must be named. Praise for Fujifilm for choosing a real wide angle. Many manufacturers choose to only go for more and more tele, while in the wide angle there is so much to do. With large tele lenses, optical image stabilization, through a moving sensor or lens part, is indispensable. It is a pity that Fujifilm does not see a chance to equip the camera with an optical image stabilizer. The raising of the sensitivity on the other hand, and with that faster shutter times works well with the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd, yet I prefer an optical image stabilizing system. I hope that a next FinePix generation gets a combination of the qualitative excellent high ISO and an optical image stabilizer.

Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd Megazoom - Super CCD
When saying Fujifilm, you also say Super CCD and that technique is unique and still really quite particular. In combination with the Real Photo Processor, Fujifilm knows to get a particular fine result from the camera. Especially the RAW pictures are particularly beautiful. Until ISO 800 you can shoot in JPEG with ease, the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd surpasses all its competitors when it comes to noise. With the very highest ISO recordings, the noise reduction becomes a bit too clearly present and at the cost of details. If you work in RAW, then this becomes less of a problem. You will get some noise, but yet very little. And I prefer rather just a little bit of noise with good sharpness than a blurrier image without noise. Unfortunately the Fujifilm S6500fd is not very fast in RAW; otherwise I would not want anything else. In RAW, the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd camera can handle the competition with ease, when it comes to quality. And with that, the part of the numbers of pixels is not significant anymore.

Fujifilm FinePix S6500 - All-round digital Megazoom camera
Not only the quality convinces, also the operation of the camera is without a doubt good. Let it be with a few glosses. Essential settings are, like RAW, light measurement and white balance, in the menu. And the flap for the battery holder has a less solid construction. On the other hand you have an excellent LCD monitor, very pleasant operation of the zoom, excellent face detection and a ditto auto focus. Moreover a set of batteries will last very long. It is an excellent performance of Fujifilm that one can take so many pictures with ordinary alkaline batteries. Ideal for when you are on a long trip or traveling a lot. Or when you just have to travel light, for the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd Megazoom camera then actually offers everything you need. After a long test period, my conclusion is therefore unambiguous; I am particularly satisfied about the qualities of the camera. The image quality of the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd is excellent and Fujifilm again shows its image. The Fujifilm S6500fd is an all-round digital Megazoom camera that offers a lot for its money, excellent!

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Fujifilm S6500fd - xD Picture memory card
The large advantage and for me personally also a disadvantage is the size of the xD Picture memory card. Because the card is so small, approximately half the size of a Secure Digital card, space is saved with the design of a camera, which has been favorable for the dimensions of the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd camera. On the other hand, the card is really so small, that it's not inconceivable that you loose it quickly. Personally, I would therefore buy a high capacity memory card, probably a 1 or 2GB storage capacity, let it sit in the camera and read it through the fast USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface. At this moment, the maximum storage capacity is 2GB, but theoretically it is the possible to extend the xD Picture card to 8GB.

Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd - Storage capacities
The xD Picture memory flash memory card is available in low as well as in high storage capacities. Because the resolution of the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd is not extremely high, the JPEG data aren't very large. In that respect you do not need to invest in very large storage capacities. With exception of the RAW size, which has a size of about 13.4MB, it is advised to use a 512MB flash memory card for photographing in JPEG. If you also work with the RAW format, then 1 or even 2GB is no superfluous luxury.